Schedule-at-a-Glance
Programs and Topics
Pre-Conference Session 1
Newcomer Panel Discussion Session
University-Sponsored Donor Advised Funds – Friend or Foe? (presented by TIAA) 
Pre-Conference Session 2
How Gift Planning Reaches Key Donors and Strengthens University Advancement (presented by TIAA)
Communication & Marketing (COMM)
Content Strategy for Everyday Use
Redefining a University Brand: A Case Study from University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Social Media: Engaging Your Audience and Delivering ROI on Social Platforms
Strengthening Crisis Communications Amid Real-World, Real-Time Challenges
Transform Your Communications through Integrated Marketing Communications
Alumni Engagement & Donor Relation (AEDR)
Expanding Alumni Engagement through your Alumni Board
Are the New Rules Really New? Where to Focus and How to Succeed in Alumni Engagement
For All Alumni: Using Email and Social Media in the Campaign for Carolina
More Than Just a Friend: When Volunteer Engagement Develops Lifelong Donors
Retention: A New/Old Frontier for Donor Relations
Sharing the Secret Sauce! How Successful Stewardship Leads to Principal Gifts
Advancement Services (AS)
Creating a Culture of Analytics … Out of the Data That You Already Have
Gift and Pledge Basics - Everything You Need to Know (Almost) - Session I
Gift and Pledge Basics - Everything You Need to Know (Almost) - Session II
Moves Management – Using What You Have to Get the Results You Want
Wealth Screening Validation – Minimum Effort for Maximum Benefit
Annual Giving (AG)
Building a Culture of Philanthropy
Digital Advertising & Retargeting as Annual Giving Tools
Navigating the Relationship between Annual Giving Programs and Capital Campaigns
Major Gifts & Gift Planning (MGGP)
Building a Strategy for Your Professional Growth & Advancement
Major Gift Officers: Maximizing Performance by Preparing for Planned Gift Conversations
$2M, $20M, $200M, or $2B – Right-Sizing Your Campaign Goal
Tax To-Dos for Non-Cash Gifts and 2018 Tax Reform Update
Advancement for Everyone (ALL)
Hit the Mark! Measurement and ROI for Advancement Professionals
Leadership Lessons from Advancements Level-5 Leaders
Mission, Vision, and Values in University Advancement: A Roadmap for Your Departmental Success
Time to Take Action with Your Diversity Plan
Corporate & Foundation Relations (CFR)
Can We Talk….about Foundation Funding?
Philanthropy 101: An Overview of Working with Foundations
Level Up - Building Strategic Corporate Partnerships
Plenary Sessions
Hackers, Innovators and Investors: Preparing for the Next Generation of Principal Gifts
Talent Management Through an Equity Lens
Why Do I Give? – A Donor Panel Discussion
Monday, May 14, 2018 (Download PDF | Download Full Schedule PDF)
Time | Location | Event |
|---|---|---|
10:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Talley Student Union | 1887 LOUNGE OPEN |
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Talley Student Union | REGISTRATION Check in and pick up conference packets |
10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. | Talley Student Union | PRE-CONFERENCE SESSION 1
(Box lunches will be provided for those attending any of the pre-conference sessions) |
11:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. |
| BREAK |
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
| Talley Student Union | PRE-CONFERENCE SESSION 2 (Box lunches will be provided for those attending any of the pre-conference sessions) |
1:15 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. | Talley Student Union Stewart Theater | WELCOME AND PLENARY SESSION 1 Title: Hackers, Innovators and Investors: Preparing for the Next Generation of Principal Gifts |
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. | Talley Student Union
| BREAKOUT SESSION 1
|
4:15 p.m. -5:30 p.m. | Talley Student Union One Earth | NETWORKING RECEPTION |
5:30 p.m. |
| DINNER AROUND TOWN Group sign-ups available throughout the day in the 1887 Lounge. |
Tuesday, May 15, 2018 (Download PDF | Download Full Schedule PDF)
Wednesday, May 16, 2018 (Download PDF | Download Full Schedule PDF)
Time | Location | Event |
|---|---|---|
7:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Talley Student Union | 1887 LOUNGE OPEN |
7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. | Talley Student Union | CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST |
8:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. | Talley Student Union Stewart Theater | PLENARY SESSION 3 Title: Why Do I Give? A Donor Panel Discussion Speaker: Panel Discussion |
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. | Talley Student Union | BREAKOUT SESSION 6
|
11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. | Talley Student Union Stewart Theater | FINALE SESSION Title: On Fire |
12:15 p.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Talley Student Union Stewart Theater | WINNER WINNER Symposium Wrap-Up |
12:30 p.m. |
| SYMPOSIUM ENDS (Boxed lunches will be available for attendees before their departure.) |
Pre-Conference Session 1
Newcomer Panel Discussion Session
This session is aimed at Symposium attendees who are relatively new to advancement work, or who may have advancement experience, but are new to the UNC System. What does “new” mean? Our panelists will be about two years into their roles--long enough to get established, but recent enough to remember what it was like to be brand new. Some of our panelists will be experienced in advancement, but new to the System; others will be new to advancement entirely. If you have been in your role for less than two years, or even if you still feel "new," please join us for this informal Q&A session. Bring your questions and concerns and be prepared to participate in a lively discussion that will transform your new-job jitters into fuel for success.
Moderator:
Kinna Clark, The University of North Carolina System
Panelists:
William Broussard, Elizabeth City State University
Judy Donovan, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Jean Driscoll, North Carolina State University
Eric Hart, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
Lisa Waldeck, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University-Sponsored Donor Advised Funds – Friend or Foe? (Presented by TIAA)
If you have ever wondered about the hype surrounding donor advised funds (DAF), this is a session designed for you. In this session we will do a deep dive into the basics (what DAF are and how they work), why it is time to pay more attention to them (tax law changes, innovation and creative fundraising techniques), and how a university-sponsored DAF may benefit you and your donors.
We will also touch on topics such as “how to open the DAF conversation with donors,” “best practices in fundraising with DAF,” “the day of an advancement team member operating a university-sponsored DAF,” “DAF vs private foundations” and “ok, we’re offering a university-sponsored DAF, now what?”
At the conclusion of this session you should expect to be well-versed in the current trends and adoption techniques of peer universities around the country and have a better understanding of a university-sponsored DAF.
Presenter:
How Gift Planning Reaches Key Donors and Strengthens University Advancement (Presented by TIAA)
Effective gift planning is donor-centered and recognizes that your constituents have their own unique personal, financial and philanthropic objectives. Often the best gift is one that also helps the donor to achieve an important life objective or resolve a difficult financial or tax issue. Effective gift planning builds the development pipeline, allowing you to cultivate valuable gifts from the “middle of the pyramid,” where donors have significant wealth, but might hold much of that wealth in liquid assets or require the flexibility of a deferred giving arrangement. We will discuss the characteristics of successful gift planning programs, innovative and effective marketing ideas to reach Baby Boomers and others, and will touch on development strategies in light of new tax law changes.
Presenter:
Communication & Marketing (COMM)
Content Strategy for Everyday Use
For all of the theories on “content strategy” out there, how many of us actually know how to execute a content strategy in practical terms? Do you know how to translate the theory into action? During this interactive session we will walk you through creating a real content strategy, from setting goals and identifying audiences to putting together an editorial calendar – a practical approach that is scalable to your situation. Together as a group, we will even build the foundation of a content strategy in real time for a member of the audience.
Presenters:
Joshua Dodson, VisionPoint Marketing
Tony Poillucci, VisionPoint Marketing
Matt Walters, VisionPoint Marketing
Redefining a University Brand: A Case Study from University of North Carolina at Greensboro
For the past 18 months, University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) has been on a journey to re-energize and redefine its brand, from transforming its story to examining its visual identity to changing the way it executes its overall university communications strategy. This is an ongoing process. Far from complete, UNCG is actually preparing to launch its new brand in August. Associate Vice Chancellor and Chief Communications Officer, Jeff Shafer, will share UNCG’s progress and process thus far. He will also provide a sneak peek of where the university is going - in an open discussion about the challenges and opportunities we all have to build our institutional brands now and in the future.
Presenter:
Jeff Shafer, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Social Media: Engaging Your Audience and Delivering ROI on Social Platforms
Social media has become a primary platform for ongoing communication with our universities’ diverse stakeholders, including our alumni and donor base. We all know that the best social strategies deliver engagement (likes, shares, comments, reposts, etc.). That engagement increases awareness and affinity for our brand. But, we also want to leverage social media to deliver return on our investment in terms of recruitment and, yes, fundraising. This presentation will offer tips on how to talk with rather than at our stakeholders, and presenters will share success stories of campaigns that drove both engagement and donor gifts and alumni participation. We will also cover social media metrics and measurement as well as listening strategies as part of the case studies.
Presenters:
Samantha Hargrove, The University of North Carolina System
Nicholas Love, North Carolina State University
Robin Oliver, Western Carolina University
Strengthening Crisis Communications Amid Real-World, Real-Time Challenges
University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC) went through a perfect storm of sorts when civil unrest in the city came onto campus amid a year of local and national political and cultural tension and high-profile campus police incidents. This created an unanticipated backdrop for the launch of the university's largest capital campaign which all coincided with a yearlong study of ways to improve the institution wide preparedness and response to emergencies and crises. Hear from a UNCC team about the many lessons learned in real time and in real life from a truly extraordinary year.
Presenters:
Christopher R. Gonyar, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Christy L. Jackson, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Stephen Ward, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Transform Your Communications through Integrated Marketing Communications
Higher education is becoming increasingly competitive. At the same time, resources are getting increasingly pinched. While we all know an inconsistent message negatively impacts recruitment and retention, never before have there been so many tools to control our own reputations. In this session, you will learn more about how an integrated marketing communications model can unite your marketing and communications efforts, as well as break up silos on your campus. You will leave with concrete tips to transform your efforts and supercharge even the smallest communications office.
Presenter:
Jaime Hunt, Winston-Salem State University
Alumni Engagement & Donor Relation (AEDR)
Expanding Alumni Engagement through your Alumni Board
Presenters:
Heath Bowman, East Carolina University
Elizabeth Underwood, Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Asheville
Are the New Rules Really New? Where to Focus and How to Succeed in Alumni Engagement
In late 2015, the Education Advisory Board published a simple, but critically important infographic that summarized what they called “The New Rules of Engagement”. They laid out “five strategies for building the next generation of alumni leaders and volunteers.” In this provocative session, a 30-year veteran of advancement will assess the long-term value of these suggestions, and help you evaluate what has changed in the short time since the New Rules were first published. He will also leave you with words of wisdom about what makes organizations strategic, and what makes strategies successful.
Presenter:
Andy Shaindlin, Grenzebach Glier and Associates (GG+A)
For All Alumni: Using Email and Social Media in the Campaign for Carolina
In October 2017, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill publicly launched the Campaign for Carolina. As part of that launch, the University’s development marketing team leveraged its Carolina Stories website content, campaign website, social media accounts, and email marketing platform to animate and launch the campaign’s theme — “For All Kind.” Through existing campus content and original video content, the team continues to share strategic campaign messages and ideas. We also engage digital audiences, primarily alumni and friends, inviting them to participate in our campaign, by asking them to answer the question “What are you for?” or by asking them to share their Carolina story.
Presenters:
Morgan Burke, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Morgan Ellis, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
More Than Just a Friend: When Volunteer Engagement Develops Lifelong Donors
We hear repeatedly that an alumnus or friend who sits on a committee at a college or university is more likely to give at a higher level. Yet, we often make volunteer engagement an afterthought. Volunteer Engagement is essential to University Development. In addition, it is not as simple as creating an Advisory Board or Committee and holding one meeting a year. Volunteer engagement involves listening to committee members and testing out their recommendations. It includes stewardship, creative programming and, yes, active involvement from volunteers. Linda Douglas took on a campus board that struggled to attract membership and build attendance for two meetings a year. She turned it into a sought-after University entity that births active University Support and committed donors.
Presenter:
Linda Brown Douglas, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Retention: A New/Old Frontier for Donor Relations
On average, nonprofits lose more than 50 percent of their donors each year. Much attention is centered on acquiring more donors, but Advancement as an industry does not commit the resources needed to keep them. With the added focus on U.S. News & World Report rankings there is little remaining time and energy to place on retaining donors. Retention should be the primary goal of Donor Relations. Imagine operating like a for-profit and retaining 90 percent of your donors. Be prepared to embrace a new kind of Donor Relations.
Presenter:
Karen L. Greene, Marts & Lundy
Sharing the Secret Sauce! How Successful Stewardship Leads to Principal Gifts
Donors give to our institutions for a variety of reasons. When we tap into the root cause of their philanthropy and develop and sustain emotional connections that speak to them personally, we open opportunities for great contentment for them and deeper philanthropy for our institutions. Please join us for an interactive discussion about strategies to establish friendly collaboration through active engagement, compelling communications and customized stewardship plans that add that one key ingredient that will make your relationships soar – the secret sauce!
Presenters:
Paige Amick, Creighton University
Mary Ellen Boelhower, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Theresa Hancock, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Advancement Services (AS)
Creating a Culture of Analytics … Out of the Data That You Already Have
Doug will draw on his 11+ years working with fundraisers to share best practices around how to put your existing data to work so that your teams can see the “stories” it has to tell, have collaborative discussions based on them, and make better faster fact-based decisions. He will cover 4 key topics:
- Data review – Do I have enough data? The right data? Is there “dark data” that is available but unused? Is there data I should start collecting?
- Tracking the right metrics – Are the metrics I am using driving the behavior and results I desire? Increased yields? Confidence in ask amounts to avoid leaving $ on the table? A happy team reaching their goals?
- Having data-driven discussions – Tips and tricks for keeping things positive and productive
- Diving into predictive analytics – “How to” plus use cases to get even more value from your data. And why bringing it in-house is possible and has big advantages!
This session will include real life case studies and practical take-aways that you can begin to implement immediately.
Presenter:
Doug Cogswell, ADVIZOR Solutions, Inc.
Gift and Pledge Basics - Everything You Need to Know (Almost) - Session I
This session will discuss a number of the basic types of gifts and pledges, policies and procedures that should be in place, along with some information about where gifts’ benefits are given back to the donor. Basic pledge reminder procedures will also be discussed. This is a good review for experienced advancement professionals and those new to the profession.
Presenter:
Rob Saunders, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Gift and Pledge Basics - Everything You Need to Know (Almost) - Session II
Continuation of Session I discussing a number of the basic types of gifts and pledges, policies and procedures that should be in place, along with some information about where gifts’ benefits are given back to the donor. Basic pledge reminder procedures will also be discussed. This is a good review for experienced advancement professionals and those new to the profession.
Presenter:
Rob Saunders, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Moves Management – Using What You Have to Get the Results You Want
Moves Management is an integral part of any successful fundraising program. The ability to effectively track and report on activities taking place with prospective donors as they are moved from cultivation to solicitation plays a crucial role. Recognizing that universities use a variety of databases and software systems, this panel discussion will explore best practices and how to get results in the area of moves management using different platforms. Presenters will discuss how they use ADVIZOR, Banner Advancement, and Raiser’s Edge to facilitate moves management and get results.
Presenters:
Wes Ardoin, North Carolina State University
Colleen Deal, Appalachian State University
Diane Pierce, University of North Carolina at Wilmington
Wealth Screening Validation – Minimum Effort for Maximum Benefit
Wealth screenings are valuable tools in the prospect researcher’s arsenal, but they are of limited value without the human touch. Computers and matching algorithms lack the ability to infer, interpret, and analyze. In this session, learn about a process developed by one prospect research team for “quick and dirty” validation of electronic wealth screening results.
Presenter:
Rachael Walker, Western Carolina University
Annual Giving (AG)
Building a Culture of Philanthropy
Since 2016, University of North Carolina at Wilmington has experienced significant increases in both senior class giving and employee giving. From campus partnerships with Human Resources, Student Affairs, and Athletics to Staff Senate and Media Production, learn about how your campus can move the giving needle on-campus, while positively impacting your annual giving production and alumni donor numbers.
Presenter:
Keith Fraser, University of North Carolina at Wilmington
Digital Advertising & Retargeting as Annual Giving Tools
The marketing toolkit of successful annual giving programs is not limited to direct appeals. Promoting social media posts and placing digital ads - including "retargeting" prospects based on their online behaviors - are increasingly important ways of reaching donors and communicating with them about the impact of giving. Understanding these opportunities, and incorporating them into your overall marketing strategy, will help to elevate awareness and boost results for all of your fundraising efforts. You will discover tips for segmenting, scheduling, and integrating digital ads with other marketing programs. You will also learn about guidelines for writing copy and creating images that stand out and resonate with donors, as well as methods for analyzing ad performance and ROI, and much more!
Presenter:
Jeremy Allen, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kenan-Flagler Business School
Direct Mail Speed Dating
Are you ready to fall in love with direct mail once again? This session is perfect for those ready to spice up their current relationship! Our expert panel will discuss one of their most successful direct mail pieces to date and share samples with every individual attending. In addition, we want YOU to bring your own direct mail piece to share in a round table discussion during the second half of the session. After attending this session, you will take home a small portfolio of new ideas that will take your relationship with direct mail to the next level.
Presenters:
Jaclyn Pingel Day, University of North Carolina School of the Arts
Chelsey Phelps, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Stacie Young, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Keeping Your Giving Day Fresh
Giving Days have become increasingly popular over the years as a unique way to capture new donors. For many programs, the novelty of the giving day is starting to wear off while your participation goals continue to grow. Join us for a discussion with Appalachian State University, currently in their fifth year of their tremendously successful #iBackAPP Day as they discuss their techniques to keep momentum going for their giving day.
Presenters:
Ethan Dodson, Appalachian State University
Tanner Greaves, Appalachian State University
Navigating the Relationship between Annual Giving Programs and Capital Campaigns
Entering a capital campaign is an exhilarating experience that creates momentum and energy around a central message that will elevate the caliber of your institution. At the same time, your Annual Fund campaign needs to move forward, bringing in those crucial unrestricted dollars that support every aspect of your university. Join us as we host three successful schools of different shapes and sizes to talk about their experience managing an Annual Giving program during the public phase of a campaign.
Moderator:
Laura Sharpe, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Panelists:
Chelsey Phelps, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Carletta Simmons, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
Ellie Yearns, Greensboro College
Where Are We Now? The Trajectory of 21st Century Digital Giving and Engagement
21st century donors live online, on social media, and on mobile devices. This presentation will explore what we have learned about digital fundraising and digital donors over the last five years, and what the future holds. The presenters will discuss high-level trends and share a case study on University of North Carolina at Asheville's innovative digital fundraising efforts, illuminated against a backdrop of data drawn from the digital fundraising of 500 schools (K-12 and higher education) and encompassing more than $150 million in online giving by more than 1.5 million donors.
Presenters:
Carla Willis, University of North Carolina at Asheville
Major Gifts & Gift Planning (MGGP)
Building a Strategy for Your Professional Growth & Advancement
As we all know, most professionals did not enter or even leave college thinking about a future in institutional advancement. Yet somehow we found our way here and are committed to the work and adding value to organizations we serve. But how do we maximize our professional successes? What is the right "next step" for career planning and growth? What credentials matter? Is it better to pursue an advanced or specialized degree, take on a volunteer leadership role, or focus on management acumen? How does one navigate the "opportunity waters" to avoid burning bridges? Fear not! We have a panel of talented professionals with a wealth of experience who will share their unique perspectives and provide sound advice, whether your goal is to shift career paths, be an area expert, lead a department, or become the next Vice Chancellor. Join us for this inspiring conversation.
Moderator:
Reid Ricciardi, North Carolina State University
Panelists:
Jim Broschart, North Carolina State University
Cynthia Butler, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Beth Fischer, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Collaborative Lanes
Our donors have many interests. Big shop or small shop, to focus our donor’s interests we all have to work together. How can we best engage faculty, staff, volunteers, and executive management to understand the passions of our donors and help these donors achieve their goals? We will discuss the principles and best practices that collaboratively bring everything together to successfully solicit the largest—and most impactful—gift from your most generous donor.
Presenter:
Ben Case, Case Consulting Services, Inc.
Major Gift Officers: Maximizing Performance by Preparing for Planned Gift Conversations
Often times the cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of planned gifts reside solely (or primarily) within the Office of Gift Planning. But is this the most effective way to maximize planned gift efforts? Join us for a discussion with gift planning veterans Lee Knight, David Landers, and David Masich as they share their thoughts on the importance of incorporating directors of development and major gifts into the planned giving “conversation” so that as to maximize fundraising efforts beyond the current gift.
Moderator:
Beth MacKethan, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Panelists:
Lee Knight, University of North Carolina at Wilmington
David Landers, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
David Masich, North Carolina State University
Chris Price, North Carolina State University
$2M, $20M, $200M, or $2B – Right-Sizing Your Campaign Goal
Finding the sweet spot between institutional needs, leadership ambitions and prospect potential is often a challenge when trying to determine the right campaign goal. You know it is the one that stretches you but that it is also an achievable success. Building upon data and strategy, this session will provide insights on how this approach works; no matter the campaign size.
Presenters:
Sarah W. Williams, Marts & Lundy
Tax To-Dos for Non-Cash Gifts and 2018 Tax Reform Update
Development officers are not expected to be experts in the area of charitable tax law. However, a basic understanding and familiarity with how gifts of cash, stock, real estate, and in-kind gifts are treated by the Internal Revenue Service is important. In addition, the new tax laws pertaining to charitable giving that came into effect on January 1 have created the need for further understanding about how donors’ gifts might be best made to help maximize tax benefits. Join this session for a “back to basics” review of charitable tax deduction issues and changes that have occurred in light of the new tax regulations.
Presenter:
Donor-Advised Funds. Heard of Them? Think All the Hype is Just That, Hype? Or Worse, They Negatively Impact Fundraising?
In this session, we will explain what donor-advised funds (DAFs) are and separate fact from myth to reveal why you need to pay attention. You will walk-away with a better understanding of why DAFs are the fastest growing charitable giving vehicle today and how they can help support your fundraising. The goal is to discuss 5 of the biggest myths of the DAF space.
Presenter:
Advancement for Everyone (ALL)
Hit the Mark! Measurement and ROI for Advancement Professionals
Learn how to evaluate the results of events (and all engagement projects) using a step-by-step approach prescribed by the ROI MethodologyTM. You’ll learn how to define objectives properly and measure results to those objectives enabling you to defend, justify, and improve the investments you make in the engagement of your most important audiences..
Presenters:
Allin Foulkrod, CSEP, Creative Visions, Inc.
Todd Hanson, CPIM, CRP, Creative Visions, Inc.
Leadership Lessons from Advancement's Level-5 Leaders
In Jim Collins' book, Good to Great, level-5 leaders possess key characteristics that bring their respective companies unparalleled results. A recent study by Dan Saftig takes this concept and zeroes in on the specific leadership qualities of high-achieving level-5 advancement leaders. What's common to their success? What are the most prevalent leadership traits seen in our profession's highest achievers? Discuss with Dan about what he learned when he took a deep dive with 10 well-known leaders and came away with a treasure trove of leadership wisdom. Aspiring advancement leaders won't want to miss these insights.
Presenter:
Mission, Vision, and Values in University Advancement: A Roadmap for Your Departmental Success
Outlining a mission, vision, and values statement for your division or department can be daunting but necessary to ensure team members are in alignment with the purpose of their work. This presentation will outline the distinction between these concepts, how to work through defining them for your department, and talk about how to frame the work of our team in terms of our departmental mission, vision, and values.
Presenter:
Nancy Peterman, Alexander Haas
The Undeniable Influence of Women in Philanthropy: A Discussion of how to Ensure their Impact in and on your Program
“Women in Philanthropy” as a topic or trend is not new. And yet, many of our programs, indeed society writ large, seem challenged to understand just how influential women are to overall success. Women have given more than men since 2005 according to the IRS, and we still struggle to remember the names of significant female philanthropists and often still exclude women in our gift conversations and leadership volunteer consideration. Our first-hand experiences as campus officers, consultants, trustees, and donors shape our perspective. We know what works and what misses the mark when trying to engage women in advancement work and philanthropy. We propose to lead a discussion about the most effective ways to engage women in advancement and philanthropy and include trends, key data points, and case study examples in our session.
Brief description of select session components:
- Current data on the vital contributions women have made and are making in philanthropy to their universities and other non-profits, as well as what is happening with transfer of wealth to women
- Reasons why women give (or choose not to)
- Actions and best practices that need to take place at a university to adapt to these changes
- Highlights of specific school programs that engage women successfully in advancement and philanthropy
Presenters:
Karin George, Washburn & McGoldrick
Lori Lewis, Western Carolina University
Susan Pettyjohn, Washburn & McGoldrick
Time to Take Action with Your Diversity Plan
Diversity is a strategic business issue. Confronting individual bias and racism begins with each of us, and is a lifelong process. But how do institutions move from individual progress to tackling deeply rooted institutional policies and practice? Join Christina Chang from the University of Washington in a roll-up-your-sleeves hour of idea-sharing, techniques, activities and that will get you charged up to create a more equitable workplace in your organization, and get a step closer to building the better world we’re all after.
Presenter:
Corporate & Foundation Relations (CFR)
Can We Talk….About Foundation Funding?
Do you ever wonder what prompts a Foundation to change its funding focus, or why leadership determines it’s best to cease funding support for a period of time? What about the role that boards play in this process and how do each of the representatives work with their boards? What do program officers want to hear from university partners as they ponder change? And, how does a foundation partner with other funders to reduce duplication of services to ensure maximum impact on the regions they serve? These are some of the questions that will be answered by our guest panelists from AT&T, Golden LEAF and Wells Fargo Foundations.
Moderator:
Caprice Lengle, University of North Carolina at Pembroke
Panelists:
Joanna LaClair, Wells Fargo Foundation
Philanthropy 101: An Overview of Working with Foundations
Learn the basics of philanthropy and the best practices for working with private foundations. This interactive course will provide an overview of philanthropy and help participants learn about the core values, characteristics, principles, and positive outcomes of a culture of philanthropy, and how that impacts the case for support, leadership, program delivery, and more.
Presenters:
Adam Linker, Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust
Shinika McKiever, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
Brandi Orbin, North Carolina State University
Level Up - Building Strategic Corporate Partnerships
Meaningful strategic, comprehensive partnerships are mutually rewarding long-term engagements between corporations and universities. Strategic partnerships provide valuable funds for mutually rewarding programs at the university that are valued by the company, typically across multiple aspects of the university. We move beyond transactions into discussion about the significant impact a company wants to have at the university. Goals for the strategic partnership are embraced by leadership at both the company and the university. Leave this session understanding why a company would make a significant investment and what it takes to move beyond a transactional relationship.
Moderator:
Ralisha Mercer, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
Panelists:
Starting from the Bottom: Building a Solid CFR Program
When starting a new Corporate Foundation Relations (CFR) office or trying to manage one with minimal staff, what should you focus on? Discussion about the essential elements of a CFR program as recommended by the Network of Academic Corporate Relations Officers (NACRO) to determine which element will work best on your campus. Determine who can and should be on your prospect list, as well as how you can build a relationship with those organizations. With limited staff time it becomes crucial to manage priorities. There will be a discussion about the factors involved in priority setting as well.
Presenters:
Megan Gorham, University of North Carolina at Wilmington
Lorena McLaren, North Carolina State University
Plenary Sessions
Hackers, Innovators and Investors: Preparing for the Next Generation of Principal Gifts
High-net-worth donors from younger generations think differently about giving than their predecessors did. For them, philanthropy is a tool to change the world, not to indulge a sense of gratitude, loyalty, or nostalgia. Colleges and universities must overcome skepticism to demonstrate their worthiness as a beneficiary. John Tannous will share an excerpt of the research that EAB conducted in the last year, sharing forecasts for future directions of philanthropy and outlining approaches that institutions should consider as they reconfigure themselves to appeal to the emerging Millennial and Generation X constituency posed to inherit or gain wealth in the coming decade. In particular, he will talk about the imperative to scale premium stewardship offerings and to develop new urgency levers and the growing pressure to orient around change and not charity and to revisit assumptions about campaign models.
Presenter:
On Fire
To maximize our work, we must maintain our energy and keep ourselves healthy. The daily grind—dealing with different agendas, politics, and personalities, the press of increasing goals, the reduction of resources—can make our work very difficult, and some days seemingly impossible. What can be done to successfully confront stress and avoid burnout? It is critical for us to stay “on fire” for the important causes and missions we represent.
Presenter:
Ben Case, Case Consulting Services, Inc.
Talent Management Through an Equity Lens
The commitment to creating and sustaining a diverse Advancement organization means moving beyond acknowledgement and awareness—how do Advancement leaders go beyond checking the box and create a truly inclusive environment where individuals can fully show up as who they are? And how do they do their best work for their institution? Christina Z. W. Chang from University of Washington Advancement will share the equity approach to their talent management strategy.
Presenter:
Christina Z. W. Chang, University of Washington
Why Do I Give? – A Donor Panel Discussion
As fundraising professionals, we work hard to understand a donor’s motivation, communicate with them about the impact of their philanthropy, and recognize their generous support for our university. But what really makes them say yes? While the process may begin with the development officer, everyone in university advancement plays an integral role in the overall donor experience. And it is these touches along the way -- from research to the ask to stewardship -- that transform the act of giving into a meaningful relationship. Join us as a panel of donors from across the UNC Systems discuss how they became involved in philanthropy, share their personal stories and experiences, and provide valuable insight to the decision-making process they undertake when supporting worthy causes. This moderated panel will allow time for questions in order to get to the heart of what makes donors say yes to giving.
Moderator:
Christopher M. Dyba, East Carolina University
Panelists:
Mike T. Constantino, North Carolina State University
Willie A. Deese, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
Marha C. Logemann, East Carolina University
Charles F. "Rick" Stone III, North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics
